Wakayama in One Day: Dorohatcho & Irokawa Shrine — Guide Hira

September, 2024

This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 8:50 　　　Gather / Wataze Onsen Sasayuri (Kawayu Onsen. Changed from Fujiya)
  • 9:35 – 10:15 Dorohatcho
  • 11:05 – 11:20 Hayatama Taisha
  • 11:50 – 12:05 Fudarakusanji Temple
  • 12:15 – 13:10 Lunch / Katsuura Town　Hinodemaru
  • 13:25 – 13:45 Daimonzaka
  • 13:55 – 14:25 Seigantoji Temple / Nachi Taisha
  • 14:40 – 11:20 Nachi Falls
  • 15:20 – 15:45 Amidaji Temple
  • 16:10 – 16:25 Irokawa Shrine
  • 16:55 　　　Disband / Katsuura Port / Hotel　Ferry

Tour Itinerary in Detail

This private tour of Wakayama began at 8:50, when the guide met the guests at / Wataze Onsen Sasayuri (Kawayu Onsen. Changed from Fujiya), and finished at 16:55. The day ran to 8 hours and 5 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch / Katsuura Town　Hinodemaru at 12:15.

From there the group visited Dorohatcho at 9:35, Hayatama Taisha at 11:05, Fudarakusanji Temple at 11:50, Daimonzaka at 13:25, Seigantoji Temple / Nachi Taisha at 13:55, Nachi Falls at 14:40, Amidaji Temple at 15:20 and Irokawa Shrine at 16:10.

Title: What Is a Private Kumano Kodo and Nachi Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

Two evenings before the tour, the guests contacted me about a change of hotel, so I immediately replied to confirm it was fine and also notified the driver's company.

The guests' desired itinerary (places they wished to visit) included Fudarakusanji Temple, Nachi Taisha Shrine, Seiganto-ji Temple, the Three-Storied Pagoda, the waterfall viewing platform, and Amidaji Temple, with lunch planned around Nachi Falls. Since this itinerary made for a tour of about five hours, and it already included visits to Dorohatcho, Hayatama Taisha Shrine, and Amidaji Temple, I suggested a slight detour to enjoy the scenery of the Irokawa village and to visit Irokawa Shrine. I also proposed having fresh tuna cuisine near Katsuura Port for lunch.

At Dorohatcho, we gave the resident "tourism ambassador" cat a gift of dried bonito flakes and took a commemorative photo. I explained that this is the point where the borders of Nara, Wakayama, and Mie Prefectures meet, and that upstream you can enjoy rafting down the Kitayama River. At the Yamabiko suspension bridge, 350 meters upstream, the guests experienced seeing the flood level of the 2011 disaster and threw urajiro ferns like gliders.

While driving, we could see from the car window the river descent of the Kumano River, sometimes called the "Kumano Kodo of the river." We visited Hayatama Taisha Shrine, and then Fudarakusanji Temple.

For lunch at a restaurant, the guests enjoyed an extra-large dish of fresh tuna.

We moved toward the Nachisan area, where the guests walked the upper part of Daimonzaka from the second stage in the middle. We drove to the top and visited Seiganto-ji Temple and Nachi Taisha Shrine. The Daimon gate and the Three-Storied Pagoda were covered for restoration work, so we had to skip them. We viewed Nachi Falls. It was decided that the waterfall viewing platform was not necessary, so we omitted it.

From the last bus stop, we proceeded 6 km along a forest road to reach Amidaji Temple. Along the way, the drive was full of variety, with mist rolling in and views of the town of Katsuura.

(Although the driver seemed a little hesitant,) the guests were not prone to car sickness, and since it is a road used by a community bus, I chose the route back to Katsuura via the Irokawa village. On the way, two wild deer were walking along the road. In the Irokawa village, we were able to take in the scenery of rice paddies where the harvested rice was being sun-dried, and terraced fields where the rice still stood unharvested. The red spider lilies were also in full bloom. We could also see fields of the local specialty "Irokawa tea." At the center of this area, we visited Irokawa Shrine, which looks across to a sheer vertical cliff on the opposite bank, and then headed for Katsuura Port.

Click here for more details: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage in 1 Day by Car with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Hira

I grew up in the mountain village. I learned many things from my family, especially my grandmother. I can give you many interesting experiences in the wild nature. We eat wild strawberries or “Sukanpo ” the edible grass, fly ferns or cross a suspension bridge.
I walked all of Kumano Kodo, Koyasan pilgrimage roads and other ancient highways, total length is more than 600km ( 400 miles).
I want you to show the interesting spots beyond the guide book. Kii mountain range has old history as well as beautiful land scapes. I’ll take you the excellent places you can do Facebook bragging.
My experiences for guiding foreigners are, town of Koyasan, pilgrimage road to Koyasan, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi, hot springs, Shingu city and Nachi Katsuura town, Kushimoto area, Shirahama area so on.
I wish to meet you soon!

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